Wales received a tough lesson from England on Saturday, as the hosts won the one-off Wheelchair test 102-22, giving the English two wins out of three in their international weekend.
Despite Wales having some good spells during the game, England took them to the sword as the Welsh conceded 100 points for the first time in four years.
Wales started well, winning a penalty from kick-off and straight away they took the lead, Scott Trigg-Turner grounding in the corner. Andrew Higgins converted.
England struck back straight away. Skipper Tom Halliwell pounced on his own grubber from the final tackle of a set to score under the sticks. Wayne Boardman converted.
Wales continued to pressure the England line and as the hosts continued to be penalised for off-side, the visitors were close to scoring, but Trigg-Turner mishandled as he was diving for the line.
But when England got back onto the attack, they scored, as Adam Rigby drove through in the corner. Halliwell failed to convert.
From kick-off, Joe Coyd, who hadn’t long come off the bench, followed him over. Halliwell sliced the goal attempt wide, but made up for it moments later by speeding over England’s fourth try. Rigby was next on the England scoresheet as they continued to build a sizeable lead. Coyd converted both.
Wales were close to scoring back on the half hour but Stephen Halsey couldn’t get on the end of a grubber. Instead, England raced upfield with Coyd racing through in the corner for his second.
The Dragons kept pressing and were eventually rewarded when new skipper Gary Preece scored their second.
But England had the last say of the first half as Coyd completed his hat-trick, then getting a fourth in fantastic style as he just beat Trigg-Turner to the ball to score as the half-time hooter went. Collins converted both to England a 42-10 lead at the break.
Wales started the second half identically to the first, with Trigg-Turner scoring, this one under the sticks, with Higgins converting.
From kick-off, Stephen Halsey, despite being under pressure, grounded in the corner. Higgins converted again.
But that was it for the Wales scorers as England dominated. Rigby sped under the posts to complete his hat-trick. Halliwell did likewise two minutes later. Collins converted both.
Rob Hawkins and Josh Butler soon added their names to the England scoresheet. Collins added both conversions before getting a try of his own, which he again converted to give England an unassailable 50-point lead.
Hawkins added two more to complete another England hat-trick with Collins again formidable with the fist and converting both.
Boardman notched the next try, to add to his earlier goal, before Seb Bechara also got his name onto the scoresheet with two quick tries, the latter bringing up England’s century. Collins added all three goals.
ENGLAND
1 Wayne Boardman (Halifax Panthers)
3 James Simpson (Leeds Rhinos)
4 Seb Bechara (Catalans Dragons)
7 Tom Halliwell (c) (Leeds Rhinos)
9 Adam Rigby (Leyland Warriors)
Subs (all used):
2 Joe Coyd (Argonauts)
5 Lewis King (Argonauts)
6 Nathan Collins (Leeds Rhinos)
8 Robert Hawkins (Halifax Panthers)
10 Josh Butler (Leeds Rhinos)
Tries: Halliwell (5, 22, 50), Rigby (18, 24, 48), Coyd (20, 32, 39, 40), Hawkins (54, 63, 66), Butler (57), Collins (59), Boardman (71), Bechara (74, 77)
Goals: Boardman 1/1, Halliwell 0/2, Coyd 2/2, Collins 12/13
WALES
2 Andrew Higgins (Hereford Harriers)
3 Gary Preece (c) (Hereford Harriers)
5 Jodie Boyd-Ward (Leeds Rhinos)
13 Scott Trigg-Turner (North Wales Crusaders)
18 Harry Jones (North Wales Crusaders)
Subs (all used)
1 Stephen Halsey (North Wales Crusaders)
9 Richard Carver (Argonauts)
8 Lucie Roberts (North Wales Crusaders)
10 Mark Williams (North Wales Crusaders)
12 Alan Caron (Hereford Harriers)
Tries: Trigg-Turner (2, 42), Preece (36), Halsey (45)
Goals: Higgins 3/4
Half-time: 42-10
Referees: Matt Bell (England), Ollie Cruickshank (Scotland)